Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-01-01
cLAmvoYANoE 1NNDIANA.

General Lew Wailace's Experience in a
Tailor shOP-It Made a Good Story
From the Indianapolis Seminal
All who have read General Wallace's
'Fair God" viii remember the scene in
the underground chamber between the
old priest and the little girl. The child
is made the instrument through which
the fair gods coming is announced,
she going into trance under the priests
influence at the time. Several MOI this
ago the General and number of gen
tlemen were discussing the supernatur-
al and were relating personal experiences
when some one asked General Wallace
where he got the idea for the incident
mentioned.
II was pIacticing law in a small coun-
try town in this Slate a number of years
ago" said the General, 'and was at work
upon the novel during odd moments.
L had never paid any attention to clair
vOyance and that sort of thing, and scot
fed at all who believed that man NAV
have knowledge Of what pertains to the
other world. There was a tailor living
In the town who was exceedingly super
stitious. He had frequently invited
me to witness some of his manifestations
but I had always refused. One night
as was walking toward home, after
having been engaged in some work at
my office, saw light in the Uailors
shop window and something prompted
me to stop. Ny friend and a boy ap-
prentice were at work when 1 entered.
The tailor gave me q chair and we be-
gan talking over mesmeric influence and
Z
ed me II would care to hear some pings.
1 told him to suggest something else,
as anybody could make rappings. He
then suggested elRirYOyance, and I told
him to go ahead.
''NOW, at this point it is necessary to
say that for the following day l had
made a business engagement with a
farmer who lived rear town IN an old
fashioned Og-hOuse. I had driven past
the place a number Of times and was
fOmiliar with the house and the road to
it
The tailor proceeded with his arrarg.
ments by placing the boy on his bench
with his face to the wall. The M. u turned
down the lamps and directed his atten-
ton to the little fellow, making passes
with his hands around and above him.
In a few minutes the boy, who was pale
and sickly IN appearance, went into a
sort OF trance, and the tailor told me to
take hold Of one OF the little chaps
hands and fix my mind on some incident
In my life or on some place that I had
visited. The farm house ] alluded to q
moment ago came into my mind at once,
and thought Of II intentIy. Almost
immediately the boys lips began NOV
ing, and IN loose, disconnected way he
described the log house, the road leading
to it, and many little details as they
passed through my mind. Bot after fol
lowing me for time he stopped, and
then began speaking something of his
own vOlihOn, or rather that OF which
was not thinking. He said that it was
night and that the house was dark. And
then he said that the door opened and a
man came out carrying a lamp in his
hand. He walked out to the hen house
and opened the door while he looked in
to it; then closed the door, returned to
the house, and all was dark again. At
this point the boy seemed to be growing
very weak, and told the tailor to rouse
him. which he did by waving his hands
in the air.
81 left the shop in short time, noting
the time, which was about 10 O'Clock.
Next day my farmer client called prompt
ly at the hour which had been set. We
went through tbs business which was to
be attended to, and as he started to 60 1
ansked him where he had been at 10
o'clock the previous night. He was sur
prised at the question, but answered that
he supposed he was asleep. I It'd him
to think about If for a minute.
"aOh, yes he said presently, 4 re-
member now. There was an animal Of
some kind causing a disturbance in my
hen-house, and I got mp just about that
time to see what the matter was. Ever
thing had quieted down when I got
there, and I returned to the house
81 told the story to my client, who
vas greatly Interested p the general said
IN conclusion, sand the incident made
such an impression upon upon my mind
that I Wovs it into the story"